Black Enterprise articles from April 2009

Black Enterprise archives from April 2009

In a time of crisis, we must all step up.(publisher's page)
April 1, 2009... We are closing in on the symbolic 100th day of the presidential administration of Barack Obama, and America has witnessed a standard of leadership that is as rare as the complexity of the crises confronting our nation. Facing daunting economic...

Create your own economic stimulus plan.
April 1, 2009... As our editors closed this issue, President Barack Obama was in the process of making good on a number of his campaign promises. In whirlwind fashion, he unveiled planks of his audacious economic program. He signed the American Recovery and...

A woman's wealth.(About This Issue)
April 1, 2009... When BLACK ENTERPRISE last featured the topic of women and money management in 2003, we boldly declared, "A Man Is Not a Plan." This year, we're reinforcing that message by showing women how to take control of their financial future in a...

We're not to blame.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2009... WELL DONE B.E.! YOUR ARTICLE ON the credit crisis was well researched and set the record straight, If we left it up to these conservative pundits, one could continue to believe that minorities were the cause of the subprime meltdown. In fact,...

I want next.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2009... I TRULY ENJOYED READING the January 2009 article, "BE Next." I am a 24-year-old, fourth generation entrepreneur who feels motivated to become a success story just like the people in this article. Furthermore, this gives me more reason to...

I'd like to see you top that.(Letters)(Letter to the editor)
April 1, 2009... THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT THE JANUARY issue, "They Got Next," was superb, The bad news is that it will be hard to top, but I know that you will definitely try. The article, "Did They Cause the Credit Crisis?" is worth the year's subscription price...

Correction.(Letters)(Correction notice)
April 1, 2009... In the "100 Most Powerful Executives in Corporate America," February 2009: * Kenneth I. Chenault oversees global operations for American Express Co., a leading global payments and travel company that operates in more than 130 countries....

$10 minimum wage in 2010?(Talking Points: What You Need To Know)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Raising the federal minimum wage to $10 per hour in 2010 is the latest campaign by Let Justice Roll, a national coalition of religious leaders, community activists, and business organizations. The federal minimum wage--enacted in...

American children read below grade level.(Talking Points: What You Need To Know)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... By the fourth grade, less than 33% of U.S. children are reading at or above grade level, notes America's Vanishing Potential, a study from the Foundation for Child Development. For Latino, black, and American Indian children, the numbers are...

Racial inequality in hospice use.(Talking Points: What You Need To Know)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... Research by The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine reveals racial disparities among cancer patients in need of hospice care due to eligibility requirements and medical insurance restrictions. Hospice care requires end of life cancer...

Digital TV: a new digital divide?(Talking Points: What You Need To Know)(Table)
April 1, 2009... Across the country, television viewers are converting from analog to digital technology thanks to a federal mandate. But the transition may create a new digital divide, say some industry researchers. According to The Nielsen Co., 12.5% of...

Not quite a bull's-eye: target-date funds make investing easy, but they sometimes miss the mark.
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IMAGINE AN INVESTMENT THAT MAGically adjusts itself over time to reflect your financial needs--as you approach retirement or as your child gets closer to college. With this miraculous tool, your only duty would be to...

I will survive: crises of all kinds require a clear-headed--but flexible--program of action. What's your plan?(TOTAL RETURN)
April 1, 2009... THE BEAR MARKET THAT BEGAN LATE IN 2007 TURNED into a full bore stock market crash last fall. It is important to distinguish between the two. A bear market is a prolonged, substantial downturn--typically 15% to 20% over several months. A crash,...

Add punch to your portfolio: investing heavyweight Wayne Weddington wants to teach you the hedge fund industry's best defensive moves.
April 1, 2009... DO YOU RECALL YOUR MOTHER'S ADVICE ABOUT HOW a single piece of bad fruit doesn't condemn everything in the produce department? That's how former hedge fund executive Wayne P. Weddington III feels about Bernard Madoff and his alleged...

Money matters.(QA)(Brief article)(Column)
April 1, 2009... A relative who recently passed away left me about $150,000. I am a 27-year-old professional who is eager to invest the money in stocks arid mutual funds. My question is: Do I dump the whole amount into the financial markets at once, or should I...

Dealing with a large tax bill: having trouble paying the IRS? Consider these options.(Internal Revenue Service)
April 1, 2009... AFTER DE'LANTE A. RAWLS, 34, LEFT his job as an insurance agent in 2002 to open his own agency, he was hit with a $7.000 tax bill because he hadn't withheld taxes on his self-employment earnings. When he couldn't pay the entire bill...

Stash your cash: three ways to safeguard bank deposits that exceed the FDIC limit.(CONSUMER LIFE)
April 1, 2009... THE SHAKY FINANCIAL FOOTING OF some big banks might be causing you concern. There were 25 bank failures last year, including Washington Mutual, the largest bank failure in U.S. history. Even so, the best advice is not to panic. "As long as your...

Ask your advocate.(QA)(Brief article)(Column)
April 1, 2009... I received a collections notice for a bill that I am not responsible for. In addition, the bill was addressed to me in my middle name--a name I never use. What can I do to resolve this situation and make sure my credit is not affected? ...

The angst of acquisition: distribution company thrives despite rocky transition.(Best Warehousing and Transportation Center Inc.)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] WINSTON MCDONALD SAYS HE NEVER really saw himself as a corporate man, even though that was where his career path veered. "Everyone in college talked about working 20 or 25 years for a company, but in the back of my...

Outsmart! A competitive advantage keeps customers loyal and rivals at bay.
April 1, 2009... WHEN MONICA G. COLEMAN AND JAMARR E. RAWLINSON opened their barbershop, they wanted it to stand out from the crowd. So rather than set up shop and wait for customers to come to them, they took their Lithia Springs, Georgia-based business on the...

Global dividends: BE 100s CEO sees the value in thinking (and doing business) internationally and encourages small businesses to do the same.(MANAGEMENT ADVICE)
April 1, 2009... CHALLENGED TO GROW HIS REAL estate investment firm amid a slumped market and economic recession, Quintin E. Primo III has set his sights overseas. "Business opportunities are abroad in emerging economies such as China, India, and Saudi...

Savvy solutions.(QA)(Brief article)(Column)
April 1, 2009... My husband is an independent trucker, and the brokers he deals with are taking advantage of the failing economy by keeping more than half of the rates, How can we keep our trucking company from going out of business? --V. Douillard ...

Business without borders: how to run a company abroad.(TECH NEWS)
April 1, 2009... INCREASINGLY, AFRICAN AMERICAN ENTREPRENEURS ARE looking beyond U.S. borders to do business. And thanks to technology, the opportunities overseas have never been greater. From voice-over-IP (VoIP) to Web 2.0 applications, for those who dare to...

What's new for '09: netbook the big hit at Consumer Electronics Show.
April 1, 2009... BY NOW, WEBSITES AND BLOGS have reported ad nauseam on January's Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. Much has been made of the roughly 10% drop in attendance, shorter taxi lines, and reduced hotel rates; and subsequent news that...

Cyberwise.(QA)(using Twitter)(Brief article)(Column)
April 1, 2009... I'm looking to network for business, and I've heard a lot about Twitter, Before I just jump in, are there any "rules of engagement?" I don't want to offend or scare off potential clients. --M.B. Newark, DE You are right to be...

Keeping the brand sacred: a hospitality veteran shares how standards and consistency build and maintain credibility in the marketplace.(Dan Normandin)(Interview)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] What's your perception of the value and function of standards to a brand? We have standards within Four Seasons to make sure the customer experiences the same high level of service at all times. We have learned...

What's your next move? making the switch from for-profit to nonprofit.(INDUSTRY WATCH)
April 1, 2009... AN UNPRECEDENTED DEMAND FOR SOCIAL SERVICES, a rapidly retiring workforce, and a shortage in experienced successors all contribute to a growing employee deficit in the nonprofit sector, reports The Bridgespan Group, a strategic consulting firm...

Since you asked.(QA)(Brief article)(Column)
April 1, 2009... I'm a college student at the Fashion Institute of Technology majoring in international marketing. I plan to move to Atlanta with my fiance immediately after graduating in December 2009. I'm a little nervous about finding a job in the current...

Anthony S. Kendall.(Mitchell & Titus L.L.P.'s chief executive officer)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New Position: Chief Executive Officer Organization: Mitchell & Titus L.L.P. Location: New York Former Position: Vice Chairman of Client Services and Managing Partner Background/Responsibilities:...

Ray Bennett.(vice president of Marriott International Inc.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New Position: Senior Vice President, Lodging Development for Select Service and Extended Stay Brands Organization: Marriott International Inc. Location: Bethesda, MD Responsibilities: Oversees...

Mark Harris.(vice president)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... New Position: Vice President of National Government Sales and Operations Organization: Verizon Wireless Location: Laurel, MD Responsibilities: Manages sales and customer service, negotiates customer agreements, and ensures...

Broderick Johnson.(lawyer)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] New Position: Partner, Bryan Cave L.L.P./Chairman, Bryan Cave Strategies Organization: Bryan Cave L.L.R/Bryan Cave Strategies Location: Washington, D.C. Responsibilities: Leads the firm's new Public...

Jacinda D. Adams.(vice president of marketing and development)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... New Position: Vice President of Marketing and Development Organization: Prevent Blindness America Location: Chicago Responsibilities: Helms strategic planning and implementation for all marketing and development activities,...

Resistance to changing the status quo: after decades of discrimination protests, will a civil rights attorney finally force change in the advertising industry?(SPECIAL REPORT)
April 1, 2009... WHILE THE NEW FACE OF PENNSYLVANIA Avenue in Washington, D.C., reflects today's multicultural society, the business community of Madison Avenue bares almost no resemblance to its immediate environment--considered one of the most culturally and...

Minding their money: Shannon and Bill Nash are serious about managing their household finances.(Wealth for Life)(Cover story)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Principle No. 3 I will effectively manage my budget, credit, debt, and tax obligations WHEN SHANNON NASH AND HER HUSBAND, Bill, got married in 1996 they began holding regular meetings about their finances....

A home to call our own: Jessica and Joseph Bembry are the winners of our fourth annual homeownership contest.(HOMEOWNERSHIP CONTEST)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] JOSEPH AND JESSICA BEMBRY HAD PLENTY OF REASONS to give thanks this past Thanksgiving--two days earlier they had closed on their first home. Despite the financial crisis, the couple was...

Black Enterprise exclusive: interview with President Barack Obama: the nation's 44th president discusses how he plans to fix the economy and strengthen minority business.(THE OBAMA WHITE HOUSE)(Interview)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ON A CHILLY WINTER NIGHT, I RECEIVED A CALL on my BlackBerry that most journalists wait for their entire career. "I'm just calling to let you know that BLACK ENTERPRISE will be the first black publication to get an...

A woman's guide to wealth preservation: don't sit back and let someone else decide your financial future.(WOMEN & MONEY [PART 3 OF A SERIES])
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] PRESERVING WEALTH is often an afterthought, but to truly ensure that your wealth lasts, you need to give thought to preservation at the time you begin building wealth. Financial experts agree that the fundamentals of...

Staring down disaster: sound planning can provide life support to small businesses when catastrophe strikes.
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] FOR DAYTON, OHIO-BASED COMTACTICS L.L.C., 2008 WAS TURNING OUT to be a banner year. The five-year-old marketing and Internet solutions firm, which develops Websites, logos, and videos, finished 2008 with $540,000 in...

Finding shelter from the storm: stock mutual funds were all wet in 2008 Here's where to invest now to avoid getting soaked.
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When comes to wealth building most investors would prefer Never to hear (or read) another word about 2008. And frankly, We agree. But in order to move forward, it's important to face up to the past. So now might be a...

Regaining your balance: move on from last year's steep losses by realigning your portfolio.
April 1, 2009... YOU KNOW THE GOLDEN RULE OF INVESTING; BUY LOW, sell high. But putting this old axiom into practice when it comes to balancing a portfolio means summoning the courage to sell winning investments and buy others that have plunged. After...

Make lemonade from lemons: turn your investment losses into a sweet tax-time advantage.(ANNUAL INVESTMENT GUIDE)
April 1, 2009... DON'T FEEL TOO BAD IF YOUR BASKET OF STOCKS AND mutual funds turned sour last year. The average stock fund lost nearly 40% in 2008. The favorite stocks of mutual fund managers, such as ExxonMobil, GE, and Microsoft, all suffered double-digit...

Finding redemption: Chef Jeff overcomes his past and helps others do the same.(Jeff Henderson)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] JEFF HENDERSON, BETTER KNOWN as Chef Jeff, knows about success. At 44, he's already served as one of the country's premier executive chefs, authored a bestselling book, and sold the rights to his life story to...

Pep talk.(QA)(Brief article)(Column)
April 1, 2009... When I launched my home-based business, friends and colleagues laughed. I quickly let them go; I have no tolerance for toxic, negative people. Do you have any suggestions for handling such people? --B. Davis Atlanta You did the...

Heading back to the big easy: Glenda McKinley says New Orleans still has a lot to offer visitors and business professionals.(CITY INSIDER)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IT'S THE MOSAIC OF CULTURES, CUISINES, NEIGHBORhoods, and architecture that makes New Orleans a jewel of a city. There is a litany of discoveries--from the decadence and European charm of the French Quarter with its...

ML320.(LUXURIOUSLY ECONOMIC)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] It provides style, comfort, power, handling, and all that you'd expect from Mercedes Benz. The ML320 with BlueTEC technology and a turbo-charged V-6 diesel engine, however, offers one additional special feature--gas...

Chevy Volt.(A NEW ROAD CHARGE)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] General Motor's Chevy Volt moves the electric vehicle into a highly powered sustained platform. Its revolutionary propulsion system will use a lithium-ion battery with a gasoline-powered, range extending engine,...

Ford Focus.(HANDLES AND PERFORMS)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Available in five-speed manual and automatic transmission, the Ford Focus 2009 not only functions like a smart car, it cruises like one Offering numerous technological advances such as in-car, voice-activated,...

Zipcar.(A NEW BUSINESS RENTAL)(Zipcar Inc.)(Brief article)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] A membership with Zipcar for business offers a wide range of cars--including premium vehicles such as BMWs and Volvos--for executives looking to cut costs, Free fuel up to 150 kilometers a day and insurance, Zipcar...

The 2009 Black Enterprise Women of Power Summit hosted by State Farm[R] was an event like no other!(All Access: Your Monthly Pass to B.E. Events, TV & Radio)(Brief article)(Conference notes)
April 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THE 2009 BLACK ENTERPRISE WOMEN OF POWER SUMMIT HOSTED by STATE FARM[R] was an event like no other! From Feb. 11 to 14, nearly 700 remarkable women executives of...

Backtalk with Chef Leah Chase.(Interview)
April 1, 2009... CHEF LEAH CHASE IS CREDITED WITHIN THE CULINARY world as bringing Creole cuisine--a blend of African, Spanish, Caribbean, and French influences--to the front burner. For more than 60 years, locals, tourists, and notables alike (including...